30 March 2016
THREE STRANDS (Part 1)
Key Scripture for series: Ecc 4:12 (NLT)
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.
God has designed every one of us for relationships. The relationship between the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit show us an example of harmony. Jesus prayed that we would be one just as He and the Father are One but yet our sinful nature drives us towards isolation and this is unacceptable. We are going to be looking at how to move from being disconnected to being a part of the body of Christ.
1. God created us with a hunger for relationships. At our very core we are relational beings.
2. The best version of you is experienced in a life giving relationship with Jesus and your life is connected with others through relationships that are Christ centred
God’s design for relationships is three strands: it consists of a minimum of two people with God in the centre of the relationship.
Matt 18:20 (MSG)
And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.
Russ Robinson is quoted as saying that “when somebody faces death, your conversation reveals the deepest passions, hopes and dreams. That’s why we go out of our way to honour dying wishes. Jesus gave us clues as to His primary concerns.”
Joh 17:20-23 (NLT)
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one- as you are in me, Father and I am in you. And may they be us so that that the world will believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me.”
3. God’s desire for His church is oneness, connection and unity therefore the enemy sows disunity, division and isolation.
4. What are the results of living a life in isolation?
1. A loss of perspective
2. A person that is vulnerable to attack. Sheep will never be attacked when in herds. They are attacked when they become isolated from the flock.
3. A fear of intimacy
4. A person becomes more and more selfish and self centred (Pro 18:1)
5. Poor health
5. Why must we live a three stranded life?
1. It is more productive. (Ecc 4:9)
2. You recover from failure easier (Ecc 4:10)
3. Your life does not grow cold spiritually. (Ecc 4:11)
4. Together we experience victory in spiritual battles. (Ecc 4:12, Acts 2:46-47, Heb 10:25)
You and Jesus is a majority. There are times where solitude does you good, but in most cases partnering with fellow believers is better than doing life on your own. God wants you to live life connected with other believers so that they can encourage you when the going gets difficult. They might not know what you are going through but they are there to encourage and pray for you as Jesus did for His disciples shortly before His death. God is amazing and the things He does are even more testimony of His unending amazing grace.
